Combination hand-hold retainer and key-operated mechanism retainer



Oct. 19, 1965 F. J. RUSSELL ETAL 3,212,305

COMBINATION HAND-HOLD RETAINER AND KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM RETAINER Filed Jan. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F250 J2 RUSSELL- Pnuz. C120 cco INVENTORS ATTOQNENS United States Patent 3,212,306 COMBINATION HAND-HOLD RETAINER AND KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM RETAINER Fred J. Russell, 8635 Otis St., South Gate, Calif., and

Paul Cirocco, Bellflower, Calif.; said Cirocco assiguor to said Russell Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 335,770 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-224) The invention relates to door locks and in particular a door lock having the key-operated mechanism located in the spindle within a hand-hold together with keeper means for holding the key-operated mechanism and the hand-hold in a releasable position on the spindle.

In a door lock of the type here under consideration, it is desirable for a number of reasons to be able to remove and replace the hand-hold or door knob upon the lock While the lock remains in position on the door. This has been accomplished in the past by employment of a keeper device extending transversely with respect to the length of the spindle through the wall of the knob while at the same time being in engagement with the spindle so that the knob is held nonrotatably attached to the spindle. Sundry spring means have been devised for holding the keeper in engaged position, subject to being depressed to release the knob when needed. Where the lock is to be a key actuated lock, the common approach has been to make only the inside knob removable as described. It is undesirable to have the outside knob removable because that would give unauthorized persons access to the interior of the lock so as to manipulate it into unlocked position. This is expressely true of locks wherein the key-operated mechanism is contained within the knob, and wherein it is adapted to be drawn outwardly through the face of the knob when a new or revised one is to be substituted, as in rekeying the lock.

When the lock is to be rekeyed by a change in the keyoperated mechanism, it is preferable that removal and replacement of the key-operated mechanism not be hampered by an accompanying need for removing and replacing the knob.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved keeper means which performs a double function, namely one which will releasably hold a key-operated mechanism within a lock spindle and also releasably hold a hand-hold such as a knob in nonrotatable engagement with the lock spindle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved keeper means which, though capable of holding both a hand-hold and a key-operated mechanism in place in a lock, is one which will not release the handhold from the lock unless the key-operated mechanism has previously been removed from the hand-hold.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved two piece keeper means or retainer, one piece of which, acting alone, will relea-sably retain the key-operated mechanism within the hand-hold, and both pieces of which releasably retain a hand-hold such as a knob in nonrotational engagement with the lock spindle in such fashion that the hand-hold cannot be released until the key-operated mechanism is first removed from the hand-hold.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompany drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the device.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal view partially broken away, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal view partially broken away, taken in a direction ninety degrees removed from FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing one piece of the two piece retainer or keeper means depressed to permit removal of the key-operated mechanism from the handhold.

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the key-operated mechanism partly removed, after the one piece of the two piece retainer or keeper means has been depressed as shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a view of the device from the same direction as FIGURE 8, but showing the parts as they would be after removal of both the key-operated mechanism and the hand-hold.

In an embodiment of the invention which is shown and described primarily to reveal a typical operating embodiment, there is shown appropriate portions of a lock including a hand-hold or knob 19 provided with a neck 11 rotatably mounted upon a bearing 12 which forms a stationary portion of a mounting assembly 13. Within the bearing 12 is a hollow spindle 14 which is the element extending into the interior of the look, by means of which rotation of the knob is made use of to unlatch a latch bolt (not shown) in the customary fashion. A key-operated mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 15 is mounted within a space 16, namely in the interior of the hollow spindle 14. A face 17 of the knob 10 is provided with an irregular opening 18, having substantially the same shape, size and configuration as a cross-section of the key-operated mechanism 15, said key-operated mechanism 15 consisting mainly of a somewhat cylindrical housing 19 and a pin tumbler housing 20 on one side. A split ring 21 is made use of in locating the face 17 centerably with respect to the hollow spindle 14.

Means are provided consisting in the main of two keepers 22 and 22' for holding the knob 10 in nonrotatable engagement with the spindle 14. An arcuate spring device 23 is relied upon for holding the keyoperated mechanism 15 in its position. Two openings, namely the openings 24 and 25 in the spindle 14, provide for mounting the keepers 22 and 22' in the spindle 14. In the neck 11 is an opening 26 through which outer ends of the keepers 22, 22' extend so as to anchor the knob 10 nonrotatably with respect to the spindle 14. The keepers 22 and 22' are adapted to shift in a diametrical direction or direction transverse with respect to the length of the spindle 14, an amount sufficient to have them depressed out of engagement with the knob neck 11 when the knob 10 is to be removed. The keepers 22 and 22 are held in the extended positions shown in FIGURE 2, for example, by operation of the arcuate spring device 23, the action of which can be observed to good advantage in FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7. An aperture 27 is provided in the arcuate spring device 23 into which portions 28 and 29 respectively of the keepers 22 and 22' extend. The arcuate spring device 23 is provided with an inwardly extending end 30 which extends through a hole 31 in the spindle 14 into engagement with a shoulder 32 forming one side of an annular recess 33 at the inner end of the key-operated mechanism 15.

A key plug 35, having a customary keyway 36 therein,

is rotatably mounted within the housing 19, in which is a customary keyway 36. An inner end 37 of the key plug 35 is provided with a tailpiece 38. The tailpiece 38 is a relatively flat extension of rectangular cross-sectional shape as shown in FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7.

In the keeper 22 is an irregular aperture 40, shown clearly in FIGURES 5 and 7, the irregular aperture 40 providing a shoulder 41 and a relieved area 42. The irregular aperture 40 is large enough to accommodate the tailpiece 38 in any position of rotation.

In the keeper 22 is a circular aperture 43 which is likewise large enough to accommodate the tailpiece 38 in any position of rotation.

When the key-operated mechanism is positioned as shown in the spindle 14, the key plug 35 is in locked position, the tailpiece 38 will be aligned in the direction shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6. In this position, neither the keeper 22 or the keeper 22 can be depressed. As respects the keeper 22, the circular aperture 43 is only large enough to comfortably accommodate the tailpiece 38, and therefore cannot be moved because the wall of the circular aperture 43 would be blocked against movement by the tailpiece 38. In the case of the keeper 22', the shoulder 41 is made use of in blocking movement of the keeper 22', because the shoulder 41 would be moved against the adjacent edge of the tailpiece 38, should an attempt be made to depress the keeper 22'.

When an appropriate key (not shown) is inserted in the keyway 36 and the key plug 35 rotated to unlocked position, the tailpiece 38 is rotated from the solid line position of FIGURES 5 and 6 to the solid line position of FIGURE 7. When the tailpiece 38 is in the position of FIGURE 7, the keeper 22'.can be moved to the position of FIGURE 7. This is the movement needed in order to release the key-operated mechanism from its position in the spindle 14. This is accomplished by reason of the fact that the keeper 22', when pressed against the arcuate spring device 23, moves it in a direction radially outwardly with respect to the spindle 14 until the end 30 is lifted from engagement with the shoulder 32. This position is illustrated in FIGURE 8. If the tailpiece 38 were rotated only forty-five degrees, the same movement of the keeper 22 would still be possible, because of provision of the relieved area 42 which would permit movement of the keeper 22', since there would be nothing to abut against the adjacent part of the tailpiece 38 which would be received in the relieved area 42.

Although the key-operated mechanism 15 can be released in this fashion as just described-the knob cannot be released because the keeper 22 continues to occupy its initial position wherein its outer end extends through the opening 26 as shown in FIGURE 8. In fact, the keeper 22 .cannot be depressed while the tailpiece 38 remains in the circular aperture 43 because the wall of the circular aperture 43 will always be pressed against one portion or another of the tailpiece 38, no matter what its position of rotation, as long as any portion of the tailpiece 38 remains within the circular aperture 43.

When, however, the key-operated mechanism is entirely removed, or at least as far removed as shown in FIGURE 8, which is tantamount to full removal, the tailpiece 38 then has been withdrawn from the circular aperture 43 in the keeper 22, and, consequently, the keeper 22 can be depressed far enough to have it disengaged from the neck of the knob 10. It will, of course, be necessary simultaneously to depress the keeper 22, and hence, both are depressed simultaneously against resistance of the arcuate spring device 23. Once the knob 10 has been removed, action :of the arcuate spring device 23 will return it to the position shown in FIGURE 9, the action of which will simultaneously return the keepers 22 and 22 to their initial extended positions. When the knob 10 and keyoperated mechanism are to be returned, the keepers 22 and 22' are again depressed until they slip beneath the neck 11 of the knob 10 and until the inner end 37 passes beneath the end 30, after which the end 30 is re-engaged with the shoulder 32.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock comprising a hand-hold assembly which includes a hollow spindle, a hand-hold in nonrotatable en.- gagement with said hollow spindle, and a key-operated mechanism releasably mounted within said hand-hold assembly, a key plug rotatably mounted in the key-operated mechanism, a tailpiece extension on said key plug, a shoulder on the key-operated mechanism, a pair of keepers movably mounted on the hollow spindle having outer ends in a first position extending through openings respectively in said spindle and said hand-hold and being in releasable engagement with said hand-hold, a shoulder one on of said keepers, means having a position of engagement with said one keeper and responsive to movement of said one keeper, said means being in releasable engagement with the shoulder of the key-operated mechanism, a shoulder on said other keeper, said tailpiece extension having a first position in engagement with shoulders on both said keepers and having a second position out of engagement with the shoulder on said one keeper and simultaneously in a position of engagement with the shoulder of said other keeper when the key-operated mechanism is in unlocked position, thus enabling movement of said one keeper to a position releasing said key-operated mechanism for removal from said hand-hold assembly while said hand-hold is barred against removal from the spindle, both said keepers being movable to positions out of engagement with said hand-hold when the key-operated mechanism is removed from said hand-hold assembly.

2. In a lock comprising a hand-hold assembly which includes a hollow spindle, a hand-hold in nonrotatable engagement with said hollow spindle, and a keyaoperated mechanism releasably mounted within said hollow spindle, a key plug rotatably mounted in the key-operated mechanism, a tailpiece extension on said key plug, a shoulder on the key-operated mechanism, a pair of keepers movably mounted :on the spindle having outer ends in a first position extending through openings respectively in said spindle and said hand-hold and being in releasable engagement with said hand-hold, a shoulder on one of said keepers, means having a position of engagement with said one keeper and responsive to movement of said one keeper, said means having a releasable engagement with the shoulder of the key-operated mechanism, a shoulder on said other keeper, said tailpiece extension having a first position in engagement with the shoulders of both said keepers and having a second position out of engagement with the shoulder on said one keeper and simultaneously in a position of engagement with the shoulder of said other keeper when the key-operated mechanism is in unlocked position, thus enabling movement of said one keeper to a position releasing said key-operated mechanism for removal from said hollow spindle while said hand-hold is barred against removal from the spindle, both said keepers being movable to positions out of engagement with said hand-hold when the key-operated mechanism is removed from said hollow spindle.

3. In a lock comprising a hand-hold, a neck portion having an opening in the wall thereof, a spindle within the hand-hold, said spindle having an exterior wall forming a space therein, said exterior wall having a hole therethrough in communication with said space, and a keyoperated mechanism mounted in said space, said handhold having an opening at the outer end through which said key-operated mechanism is adapted to be drawn, a

key plug rotatably mounted in the key-operated mechanism and a tailpiece on said key plug, a shoulder on the key-operated mechanism, a pair of keepers movably mounted in a cross ways direction in the spindle and having outer ends extending through the opening in said neck and in releasable engagement therewith, a shoulder on one of said keepers and a relieved portion adjacent said shoulder, spring means in engagement with said keepers and having a portion located on said exterior wall and extending through said hole into releasable engagement With the shoulder of the key-operated mechanism, a shoulder on said other keeper, said tailpiece being in a position out of engagement with the shoulder on said one keeper and simultaneously in a position of engagement with the shoulder of said other keeper when the key-operated mechanism is in unlocked position, thus enabling movement of References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,059,695 11/36 Jacobi 70224 2,079,583 5/37 Brauning 70-224 3,017,762 1/62 Kubik 70224 ALBERT H. KAMPLE, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner. 

1. A LOCK COMPRISING A HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY WHICH INCLUDES A HOLLOW SPINDLE, A HAND-HOLD IN NONROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOLLOW SPINDLE, AND A KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM RELEASABLY MOUNTED WITHIN AID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY, A KEY PLUG ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM, A TAILPIECE EXTENSION ON SAID KEY PLUG, A SHOULDER ON A KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM, A PAIR OF KEEPERS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE HOLLOW SPINDLE HAVING OUTER ENDS IN A FIRST POSITION EXTENDING THROUGH OPENINGS RESPECTIVELY IN SAID SPINDLE AND SAID HAND-HOLD AND BEING IN RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HAND-HOLD, A SHOULDER ONE ONOF SAID KEEPERS, MEANS HAVING A POSITION OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE KEEPER AND RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE KEEPER, SAID MEANS BEING IN RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDER OF THE KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM, A SHOULDER ON SAID OTHER KEEPER, SAID TAILPIECE EXTENSION HAVING A FIRST POSITION IN ENGAGMENET WITH SHOULDER ON BOTH SAID KEEPERS AND HAVING A SECOND POSITION OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDER ON SID ONE KEEPER AND SIMULTAENOUSLY IN A POSITION OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDER OF SAID OTHER KEEPER WHEN THE KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM IS IN UNLOCKED POSITION, THUS ENAGLING MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE KEEPER TO A POSITION RELEASING SID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM FOR REMOVAL FROM SAID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY WHILE SAID HAND-HOLD IS BARRED AGAINST REMOVAL FROM THE SPINDLE, BOTH SAID KEEPERS BEING MOVABLE TO POSITIONS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HAND-HOLD WHEN THE KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM IS REMOVED FROM SAID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY. 